Michelle,
the milk and mucous connection is an urban myth. IMRT (or any radiation for that matter) and Cisplatin will cause mucous problems for a while and that is a fact. Some of that "mucous" may be thick stringly saliva from damaged salivary glands as well. It took my salivaries 18 months to make a full recovery. The mucositus started disapperaing about 2 months post Tx. My pain level was intense for several months post Tx but many have had different experiences. As far as appetite, I had to force feed myself and kept a journal.

I am very greatful that I was able to get IMRT. I have relatively few problems today. They irradiated some of my nodes also but I had no surgery. Tonsil and BOT are treated the same way as a general rule.

It's a little unusual that they would give you Diflucan and Nystatin at the same time. Diflucan is more effective than Nystatin. At one point I was taking 400 mg a day. There is also a recommended maintenance dose of around 50mg/day. I have read that some AIDS patients take as much as 800mg/day. Thrush can cause a lot of pain and swallowing difficulties as well. Yogurt cam help with the thrush a little but it has to have acidolpholis in it.

I am also surprised that they let her get away without a PEG. I refused one myself but for many here it's been a lifesaver and convenience. I lost over 60 lbs.

Carnation VHC didn't exist when I went through treatment. I used the packaged stuff. I found that I could still taste coffee some so I used the "Espresso" flavored packages, unfortunately, they don't sell it separately so I had to buy the multiple flavor packs to get it.

Big pills were tough for me also. I preferred the morphine for breakthrough pain. It was the fastest acting and the pills were very tiny.